Building frame construction



y 19, 1953 E. J. KUMP, JR

BUILDING FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed July 15, 1946 INVENTOR. d- KuMP RERNEs T Arronu EYS Patented May 19, 1953 UNITED STATES rrrr OFFICE 7Claims.

This invention relates to building-frame construction, and particularlyto knee structure in which angularly extending frame members are securedtogether by knees that function as braces and connectors, and that alsotake any strains on either of the frame members.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of knee structurein which the frame members .are joined, or may be joined, in a strong,economical, and simple manner providing adequate strength. at the kneeto take any strain that would be placed on either of the frame membersin normal .building construction where said frame members are used.

Another object of the invention is the combination of a metal knee andWooden frame members in which the frame members are joined by the kneein a manner providing adequate strength at the knee joint, but whichknee does not interfere with nailing to the frame member all the way totheir adjoining ends and from any side of said frame members.

One of the various places in building construction where knees or kneebraces have beenfound,

to be most desirable and needful, is in arch structure where there are apair of frame members each comprising a combined rafter and stud, withthe ends of the rafters remote from the studs being in substantiallyadjoining relationship, and in whichthereis no support between therafters and the floor other than the studs. In the case of plywoodarches, as seen in my copending application Serial No. 495,425, filedJuly 20, 1943, now Patent No. 2,413,145 the knee portion can be ofadequate strength to take the strains placed thereon, but in the absenceof such structure, some other means must be employed. Also, there areinstances where plywood rafters and studs are preferably made separatelyfor joining in the This invention provides the necessary strength andcompactness for the knee joint of rafters and studs or for wherever elsea knee'is required without making the knee integral with the studs andrafters as shownin said application, and which joint is free from anyunsightly projections along '2 knee used in Fig. 1 before bending toform the knee, and indicating in dotted lines the outline of the kneeafter bending.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along a line similar to line3-3 of Fig. l but showing a modified structure.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational View of a still further type of kneejoint than is shown in the preceding views.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6-45 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along a line similar to line.3-3 of Fig. 1 but showing a modified form, of the invention that isdifferent from the others.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing a" pair of channel stripsarranged back to back instead of the I strip of Fig. 3.

Briefly described, the preferred form of the instant inventioncontemplates the use of a plurality of pieces from which the studelement and rafter elements are formed, and which pieces are gluedtogether for their entire lengths. While these pieces may each be ofplywood having any desired number of plies, they are usually only two innumber for each stud or rafter and are relatively large pieces, eachbeing about two inches thick.-

While the structure illustrated shows the use of bolts or nails forsecuring the knees or connectors to the stud or rafter pieces, there areinstances in which said pieces are cemented to the metal knees orconnectors as well as being glued together. It is therefore to beunderstood that the illustrations and detailed description are notintended to restrict the invention.

In detail, the frame members illustrated each comprise a stud I and arafter 2 that extend angularly relative to each other and that areconnected at their adjoining ends by a knee, generally designated 4.

The rafters of each pair of frame members may also be connected at theiradjoining ends by a connector 5 that is substantially identical with theknee member 4, except that the angle between the end portions of theknee may be different.

Each stud I may comprise a plurality of pieces 6 that are ofcorresponding outline, preferably a pair of such pieces. These piecesare each elongated and of the desired length of the stud and they maycorrespondingly taper from their lower to their upper ends with theirupper ends being of the greatest width. The rafters may each comprise aplurality of pieces 1, preferably a pair, and which pieces are ofcorresponding outline (Fig. 3).

The knee shown on Figs. 1 to 3 comprises an elongated I member having aweb 8 and oppositely extending flanges 9 extending from thelongitudinally extending edges of the web, thus providing oppositelyoutwardly opening channels along opposite sides of the web with the webproviding a common bottom for the channels. Of course, a pair of channelstrips arranged back to back would provide substantially the samestructure, as best seen in Fig. 8, but theI strip is preferable in mostinstances due to its simplicity and economy of manufacture.

The I strip of Figs. 1 to 3 may beformedfrom a straight length having anotch it cut through one of the sets of flanges and the web as best seenin Fig. 2. The angle of the out edges determines the angle-at which theend portions, will extend relative to each otherinasmuch as the strip asshown in Fig. l is bent to. the dot-tadposition ll of Fig. 2 closing thenotch, and thereafter welding along the opposite cut edgessecurestbcmtogether to form the rigid knee of Fig. 1. To form. the:connector 5, the notch is made more acute than in Fig. 2 so that the endportions will extend at an. angle less than that, shown in the dotted.position H- where. the notch closed. Any desired angle can be obtainedaccording to the acutenessot thenotchcontour.

The web 3 of the knee and of the connector 5, are. eacl-i formed with arow of relatively large openings and tubular members [-2 are fitted-- inthese openings and preferably'welded to the web, with the ends of saidmember projecting equally from. opposite: sides of the. web. Thedistance these; members project. from the web is preferably less thanthe width of. the flanges 8,, although, 1' r as will later be described,there are. instances whereth y may be the same and greater widths.

The. lower ends of pieces. 7 are fitted between opposed. flanges. 9. at.each of the opposite sides. or the. web. 8, and said pieces are recessedon their opposed sides to. receive, the. projecting ends of thetubularmember l2. The bottoms of saidremasses in. pieces, I may be coaxially.apertured. to passbolt 13, which bolts passthrO-ugh he. tubula member l2and upon tightening the nuts Ht on said bolts. the pieces are. drawnlightly against the, web 8;, The ends, or pieces 6.that.e.xt.end into.the, oppositely outwardly opening channels eithe- L strip are preferablycut away on their oppfised. sides. to compen ate for the web 9),.thereby permitting the adjacent sides of said pieces to come togetherall the distance to. the knee- The flanges 9 may also be formed witho,penings for nails or screws [3 that. extend, through aid open nssinto.the pi es 6. andl- Wberethe I strips. and pieces 64.1 are fairly light,the bolts. may be omitted, and the nails, only used. There are instanceswhere the bolts are, adequate, as in. heavier structure, or, as seen inFig. 3: both may be used;

The foregoing description relative to thepieces T is applicable topieces i3, the upper ends Qi the latter being fitted against the. web 8'and; receivingtubul'ar members that are identical with those fitted inrecesses formed in pieces 1,. Bolts [3 extend through such tubularmembers the same as described for pieces 'I'.

The outer adjacent ends of the rafter pieces that come together at theridge extend into, conmotor 5', the latter being identical in everyrespect with the knees, except for the angle at which the end portionsextend.

The thickness of each of the pieces 6, l is such that they preferablyproject beyond the flanges 9, as seen in Fig. 3, thus providing nailingsurfaces that may be used for nailing roof or ceiling structure. As theoppositely outwardly facing sides of the pieces 6, '1 are not covered,any desired structure may b nailed to said sides all the way to theadjoining ends of the studsv and rafters. The studs'and rafters joineach other at the angle of the knee along line l8 (Fig. 1) thus forminga continuous surface across the joint, and also enabling as much aspossible of the studs and rafters to be held in the angularly extendingportionsof the knee.

By the foregoin structure an extremely strong knee joint and ridge jointare provided, without the. use of high strength materials such asplywood. The provision of the members I2 is an important contribution.towards providing the necessary strength. No external braces, such asordinarily extend across the inside angle in knee structure, is.necessary but the. knee joint is practically as free from. externalprojections as the. knee joint in the plywood. arches hereinbcforementioned.

InFig. 4 a special knee joint. is shown in which the-end ortionsthat.receive the rafter and stud. pieces 6 "t are tapered in, continuationof. the t p r f said pieces. Also in this form of. the invention,relatively longv tubular members 20 are. used and. which members.extend; completely through the members 6, l and riveted over against theoppositely outwardly facing. sides of" said members. a seen at 2 L InFig. 6 I, show the. knee as being formed; of. channel strips, 2.5. .26arranged parallel with'their open sides. facing each other.v The rafterpieces 21. and the. stud pieces, 28 are disposed. between said channels,although the. sides. 29 of. said channel strips do not come togetherwhen the adjacent sides of the, stud and rafter pieces. are. together,thus. providing nailing. surfaces 30 between the. adjacent edges. of thechannels.

The. bottoms 31' of channels, 25,26 carry tubular member 32 projectinginwardly therefrom, which members correspond in, function with the.member 12. of. Fig. 3. These members. 32 are arranged in. coaxial. pairsrespectively welded i o enings.

formed; in thesaid bcttomse'l'. The oppositely outwardly facing. ides.of he stud. and rafterpieces are recessed to receive said members. andbolts. 3 extend through said; members. andthrough axially aligned.openings in the stud and rafter pieces for bolting them together and forsecuring, the channels, against said. p e e ail 3J4 extendmg throughthe. sides as of said; channel, members. may also be used in additionto. the bolts, if desired.

e structure of e- 6,. in so. far as channels 2.5, 26 are concerned isparticularly well suited to use. where a single stud and a singlerafter, or a combination of adjoubl'e piece rafter or stud,

isused', with asinglepiece studor rafter.

In. ig. T. how the se f r si le. r fter piece 35. and a single studpiece 3.1; held together by a knee joint that comprises the channels.25;, 2.6, of Fig. 6. The same numbers are used in Fig. 7 to identifyidentical elements. of Fig. '6'.

In Fig. 8 is shown a pair of channel strips in back to back relationshipto. form an I strip such asshown in Figs. 1' to 3. The bottoms 3801 saidstrip-s may be coaxially apertured for tubular members 39 that areidentical with the member I2 of Fig. 3. These members 32 in Fig. 8function to hold the channel strips together as Well as providing thedesired structure for taking the strains of the stud and rafter pieces,the latter being respectively numbered it, there being a pair or" each.Bolts d2 extending through said members 39 and through coaxial holes inthe stud and rafter pieces bolt the stud and rafter pieces and the kneetogether.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description and thedrawings are not to be considered restrictive of the invention, butmerely illustrative thereof.

I claim:

1. Building structure comprising a first pair of elongated angularlydisposed frame members in end to end substantially adjoiningrelationship, a knee for securing said members together, said knee beingelongated and formed to provide a continuous channel extendinglongitudinally thereof having opposed sides and a bottom, adjacent endportions of said members being positioned between said sides and againstsaid bottom, projections secured to said bottom extending into said endportions, and means for securing said end portions between said sidesand against said bottom; said knee including a second channel parallelwith said first mentioned chan' nel and identical therewith, a secondpair of elongated frame members in end to end substantially adjoiningrelationship and respectively in side by side relationship with saidfirst pair and having adjacent end portions received in said secondchannel said end portions of said second pair being between the sides ofsaid second channel and adjacent the bottom of the latter, projectionsextending from the bottom of said second channel into said lastmentioned end portions and means for securing said last mentioned endportions in said second channel.

2. Building structure comprising a pair of frame members each of whichcomprises a pair of substantially identical elongated frame elements inside by side adjoining relationship, said frame member being in end toend adjoining relationship and extending angularly from each other, aknee comprising an elongated I member providing oppositely outwardlyopening channels at opposite sides of its central web, the adjoining endportions of said frame members being secured to said I member with theelements of each frame member being at opposite sides of said web, andmeans securing said elements against said web.

3. An arch member comprising a stud and a rafter extending angularlyrelative to each other with one of their ends in adjoining relationship,a knee comprising an elongated I member of structural steel providing aweb and oppositely outwardly extending flanges along oppositelongitudinally extending edges of said member, said web extending intothe adjacent end portions of said stud and said rafter whereby said endportions will enclose said web, and projections extending oppositelyoutwardly of said web into the said end portions.

4. An arch member comprising a stud and a rafter extending angularlyrelative to each other with one of their ends in adjoining relationship,a knee comprising an elongated I member of structural steel providing aweb and oppositely outwardly extending flanges along oppositelongitudinally extending edges of said member, said web extending intothe adjacent end portions of said stud and said rafter whereby said endportions will enclose said web, and projections extending oppositelyoutwardly of said web into the said end portions, said flanges being inengagement with two opposite sides of said end portions, and means forsecuring said end portions against said web and between said flanges.

5. An arch member comprising a stud. and a rafter extending angularlyrelative to each other with one of their ends in adjoining relationship,a knee comprising an elongated I member of structural steel providing aweb and oppositely outwardly extending flanges along oppositelongitudinally extending edges of said member, said web extending intothe adjacent end portions of said stud and said rafter whereby said endportions will enclose said web, and projections extending oppositelyoutwardly of said web into the said end portions, said flanges being inengagement with two opposite sides of said end portions, and means forsecuring said end portions against said web and between said flanges,said means comprising units extending through said flanges into said endportions.

6. An arch member comprising a stud and a rafter extending angularlyrelative to each other with one of their ends in adjoining relationship,a knee comprising an elongated I member of structural steel providing aweb and oppositely outwardly extending flanges along oppositelongitudinally extending edges of said member, said web extending intothe adjacent end portions of said stud and said. rafter whereby said endportions will enclose said web, and projections extending oppositelyoutwardly of said web into the said end portions, said projections beingtubular elements secured to said web, and said end portions beingrecessed to receive the projecting ends of said tubular elements.

7. In an arch member comprising a coplanar stud andrafter extendingangularly relative to each other with one of their ends in adjoiningrelationship, a knee formed to provide a pair of similar, parallel,elongated continuous metal channels, said stud and said rafter extendinginto said channels at their adjoining end portions, means securing saidportions in said channels, and means connected with said channelsprojecting into said end portions for transmitting strains on saidrafter and stud in their common plane to said metal channels, saidchannels having their open sides directed oppositely outwardly andhaving a web forming a bottom common to both channels, said lastmentioned means being cylindrical members extending through said web andprojecting from opposite sides thereof.

ERNEST J. KUMP, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 280,884 True July 10, 1883 675,249 Sergeant May 28, 19011,622,746 Truemper Mar. 29, 1927 2,283,943 Myer May 26, 1942 2,323,844Sahlberg July 6, 1943 2,365,501 Walstrom Dec. 19, 1944 I FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 376,603 France of 1907 19,103 Denmark of 1914 21,371France of 1920 151,604 Great Britain of 1921

